One of our most popular events, students perform with other students in ensembles of two or more. These include, but are not limited to, duos on one piano, quartets on two pianos, trios on three different instruments, etc.

Ensemble playing requires students to work with others in polishing a piece, develops students’ ability to listen critically to each other, and enhances the fun of making music.

These recitals are adjudicated. All students receive certificates and feedback from master teachers. Some students are selected to play at the state recital and receive a medal.

OVERVIEW: The OMTA Sonata & Sonatina Festival gives students of high school age and younger the opportunity
to compete with other students by performing before a judge in a private audition and receive a written evaluation
of their performance. The judge will choose up to two students from each level to perform in the Honors Recital
later in the day to compete for first and second place. The Honors Recital is open to the public. The festival
encompasses ten levels, each of which is represented by one Sonatina or Sonata Movement selected from various
composers and levels of difficulty. The festival repertoire levels correlate to OMTA syllabus levels and are
published each year by the end of January.

MTNA Student Performance Competitions

Exceptionally talented students can pursue excellence and achieve recognition by entering performance/composition competitions sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association. Competitions are available at the Elementary (compositions only) Junior, Senior, Young Artist and Chamber Music Categories. Teachers need not be an OMTA member, in which case there would be a $150.00 non-member fee.

These prestigious auditions are held at the state, division, and national levels. National winners receive cash prizes. All finalists receive travel grants.

Each year, students of OMTA Portland teachers have the opportunity to perform in four period music festivals: the Baroque Festival, the Classical Festival, the Romantic Festival, and the Contemporary Festival. Students entered in each festival perform a piece composed in the musical period represented by the festival’s name. For example, students registered for the Romantic Festival perform music composed during the Romantic Period of music.

OMTA Portland festivals are open to students age 5 through 18. Each student may enter in a competitive and/or a non-competitive capacity, depending on that particular festivals rules. Participants perform or compete within their own age group. Each age group is adjudicated by a master instructor/adjudicator, who provides each student with a written critique of his performance as well as a certificate of participation. Competitive students who give particularly strong performances (as determined by the adjudicator) are awarded with trophies or medals.

If time permits, the adjudicator may invite some or all of the students to the instrument for a short master class. During the master class session, the adjudicator may give the student advice on how to play his piece even better. The adjudicator may share information about the piece’s composer, demonstrate how to play certain passages, or help a student fix common technical errors. The master class is a particularly exciting and educational part of the festival because it is held in front of the audience, all of whom can benefit from the master’s comments about each piece.

Ensemble Festival

One of our most popular events, students perform with other students in ensembles of two or more. These include, but are not limited to, duos on one piano, quartets on two pianos, trioson three different instruments, etc.

Ensemble playing requires students to work with others in polishing a piece, develops students’ ability to listen critically to each other, and enhances the fun of making music.

These recitals are adjudicated. All students receive certificates and feedback from master teachers. Some students are selected to play at the state recital and receive a medal.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Sonata & Sonatina Festival

The Sonata & Sonatina Festival is designed to give students of high school age and younger the opportunity to learn and perform beautiful music from various composers, periods and styles. Students will perform before a judge, compete with other students and receive a written critique of their performance.

This festival is unique in that all students from each level will perform the same sonata/sonatina, and the whole festival takes place in one day. A public recital is held at the end in which the winners of each level perform and trophies are presented. The festival is held at the University of Oregon.

Although the festival is a wonderful opportunity, the process of learning the pieces in itself can be very enriching and helpful to teachers as well as students.

Students perform music of the baroque period, including the music of J. S. Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, and others.

Learning to play music in the style of the period is an important component of our students’ education.

These recitals are adjudicated. All students receive certificates and feedback from master teachers. Some students are selected to play at the regional and state recitals, as well. State recitalists receive medals.

The Sonata & Sonatina Festival is designed to give students of high school age and younger the opportunity to learn and perform beautiful music from various composers, periods and styles. Students will perform before a judge, compete with other students and receive a written critique of their performance.

This festival is unique in that all students from each level will perform the same sonata/sonatina, and the whole festival takes place in one day. A public recital is held at the end in which the winners of each level perform and trophies are presented. The festival is held at the University of Oregon.

Although the festival is a wonderful opportunity, the process of learning the pieces in itself can be very enriching and helpful to teachers as well as students.

Portland District Ensemble Festival will be held Saturday, January 25 at

Portland Piano Company, 711 S.W. 14th Avenue Portland . Registration is now open. The registration form and instructions can be found on the Portland District website in Event Applications under the Events tab. Click here for more information and the link to the application: Ensemble Festival